By GARRETT WELLBROCK
Hays Post Sports
Phillipsburg - Smith Center leaned on defense, a timely passing strike, and an 18-play clock-draining drive in the fourth quarter to grind out a 16-14 victory over Phillipsburg Friday night in a Mid-Continent League rivalry matchup.
The Redmen (2-0) built an early lead and survived a second-half push from the Panthers (1-1), who were playing with senior quarterback Colin Springer back under center after missing Week 1.
Smith Center struck first in unusual fashion. After forcing a three-and-out, a high snap on Phillipsburg's punt sailed into the end zone, where Brady Desbien fell on it for a touchdown. The two-point conversion made it 8-0 with 2:45 left in the first quarter.
The Redmen wasted no time adding on. Early in the second quarter, quarterback Parker Hutchinson connected with Cole McKelvey on a 67-yard scoring pass, stretching the lead to 16-0.
Phillipsburg answered before halftime. Springer broke free on a designed run for a 28-yard touchdown, then added the conversion to cut it to 16-8. After a Hutchinson fumble, the Panthers drove into the red zone late in the half behind two completions to Cleveland Corman, but a sack from Smith Center linebacker Isaiah Haack stalled the drive.
In the second half, both teams leaned entirely on the run game. Phillipsburg's 12-play 64-yard march was capped by Springer's second rushing touchdown, a 7-yarder that made it 16-14 with 10:46 left. But the two-point try was stuffed by the Redmen defense, proving to be the difference.
From there, Smith Center never gave the ball back. Starting from their own 18, the Redmen methodically chewed up the final 10:46 on an 18-play drive, converting twice on third down and twice more on fourth down to seal the win. Neither team attempted a pass in the second half.
Hutchinson finished 2 of 3 passing for 76 yards and a touchdown while rushing 11 times for 46 yards. Riley Griffin Powers added 57 yards on 10 carries, and Brant Wilson chipped in 52 yards on 15 attempts.
For Phillipsburg, Springer accounted for both scores, rushing 11 times for 58 yards and completing 3 of 6 passes for 67 yards. Caleb Leidig added 40 yards on 13 carries, and Corman caught two passes for 49 yards.
The victory marked Smith Center's first over Phillipsburg since 2023 giving head coach Mike Rogers a 2-1 lead in his head-to-head series against Ross Coomes.
Both teams continue MCL play next week as Smith Center looks to stay unbeaten vs Norton. While Phillipsburg aims to bounce back at TMP.